No work permit is needed to legally work in the Czech Republic? Really?

A dream come true for employers?

If you're an employer dreaming of hiring foreign workers in the Czech Republic more easily, here's some good news. As of summer 2024, an exception in Czech employment law allows employers to skip the Labor Office process entirely—but only when hiring citizens of specific countries.

What is the main benefit?

The biggest advantage is avoiding the entire communication with the Labor Office.
No more worrying whether the employment contract fully matches a registered job vacancy, and no more stress about whether the employee will manage to submit their application before that vacancy expires.

However, keep in mind:
Even though the Labor Office step is no longer needed, a long-term residence permit is still required. This means the exception applies only to stays longer than 90 days. It does not apply to short-term Schengen visas.

Which countries are included?

What does "free access to the labor market" actually mean?

Although the Labor Office approval is no longer required, a residence permit is still necessary. Citizens of the countries listed above must still apply for an Employee Card.
In this case, it is a non-dual Employee Card, meaning that while a registered job position is no longer needed, all the standard documents still apply—such as the application form, employment contract, and others. Since employment remains the primary purpose of stay, the permit is still called an Employee Card.
While this update simplifies the Employee Card process for many, it may not be suitable for everyone. Other options—such as the EU Blue Card for highly qualified specialists or the Intra-Company Transfer Employee Card—may be more appropriate depending on the situation.